Profiles of Student Exchange Interns
Minority Care International (MCI), in partnership with Texas A&M University-Commerce and the University of Mindanao (UM) has once again chosen the second batch of exchange students to undertake the Student Exchange Program for Fall 2010. Aquisah Ampuan and Anidah Macadato is scheduled to leave on August 23, 2010 for Texas, United States to take part in the cross-cultural courses.
FALL 2011
Name: Pearl Joy Bayanon
Course: B.S. Accountancy
Tribe: Ilonggo and Visayan
The Lord has thousands of promises written in the scripture and one of these is in Jeremiah 29:11 that says:" For I know the plans I have for you "declares the Lord" plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you and a future.
Indeed, His word is alive and so true. I am here to testify God's wonderful plans He already set for me and how he brought MCI into my life which truly a blessing from above.
I am Pearl Joy Bayanon born in the province of South Cotabato, year 1990. I belong to Ilonggo and Visaya tribe. I have four siblings; two sisters and two brothers. I came from a less-fortunate family and at an early age, I was able to understand what poverty means. During my childhood years particularly when I am still studying in grade school, I have to walked everyday a couple of miles away under the heat of the sun before reaching the school I go to. Consequently, there were times I would arrive to school late. I cannot forget the embarrassment when my classmates tease me during recess time since I cannot afford to buy something to eat. I do not have an enough allowance and they were teasing me for that. Yet, I managed to understand my family's situation since I have lots of siblings especially my father was jobless because of his illness. My mother took on the responsibility of earning a living for us to survive. In order to help my parents I sell banana cues, chips and among others at school so in my own little means I could help them. Before my graduation in my grade school the saddest part of life came because my father passed away unexpectedly Last 2002.This incident has brought the entire family into grieving situation since we loved him dearly and became good father to us too. Also during my high school years, I still had the same struggle walking everyday to school with regarding the heat of the sun. Another sense of sacrifice is when for many times we only have to eat rice porridge and add salt into it to make the food somehow tasty. Some of my relatives keep saying that we should stop going to school and just to find work instead. This situation made me realize that I should finish my studies to help my family get out from poverty.
In addition to, I left my hometown right after graduating from secondary school to go to Davao city having heard that one of my mother's relative will financially support me with my studies. They promised my mother that they can help her by sending college. However, as I arrived in their house; they only accepted me as their helper and took advantage of our situation. So, I left them to find a living.
I had so many struggles at that moment because I chose to stay at Davao rather than going back to my town. It prompted me to look for whatever available job to sustain my daily needs. After sacrificial times, I finally accepted to a job that requires me to teach English language to Koreans about three hours for three times a week. I also decided to use my remaining time to look for another one, after that one of the fast food chains in Davao hired me as part-time service crew. This is because in the Philippines, they pay low wages to workers, so still I cannot afford to pay tuition fee. Aside from that, I have to meet the increasing demands of day to day expenses which are very expensive and unaffordable. The toughest is that I have to keep and carry all burdens by myself. I almost lose hope by that time that I thought of maybe God does not take notice of me.
But, in God's perfect time Minority Care International (MCI) came into my life. I am very grateful to God for opening the door for me by finding MCI. I learned about it through one of my friend named May, one of MCI scholars. She encouraged me to join the study forum every Saturday and I am thankful to meet the MCI president, Dr. Aland Mizell with whom I opened up my story and he also taught me a lot of things too. After some time, he let me become one of the MCI scholars. Indeed, MCI does not only financially support the students who are in need but also involve in people's lives. They teach us to live a balance life: education and character as the bird having two wings in order to fly and soar high. They are giving emphasis on principles and values to be used in reality. MCI assists students who are underprivileged and came from far-flung areas specifically in Mindanao by giving scholarship program. Also, every Saturday MCI is conducting study forum that tackles important areas and aspects of life. Presently, we do have fifty- members who are participating in the said activity. It actually promotes the spirit of camaraderie, sense of nationalism, to become God-fearing, environmentally-friendly and socially concern.
MCI believes the importance of service learning, as it try to help change the way society organizes itself, and has its own ways addressing social problems, thus create social change. MCI has annual community outreach project called "Tools for schools" to a chosen lumad- community. It aims to instill awareness to us MCI students on the importance of love through giving, selfless sharing among the needy. Last December, MCI gave a water tank to the Care for the Elderly Foundation; a home for the aged institution. This water tank project was borne -out due to widened necessity of water supply to the constituents of the foundation. Moreover, in order to protect and restore the forest and to counteract the rapid environmental degradation as organization initiated a tree planting drive at Davao just this March. MCI conducts annually a special three-day retreat held every summer. This is to ensure that students can unwind and at the same time be reminded of spiritual responsibility.
Also, MCI initiates leadership seminars and conferences to other universities in Mindanao especially to five famous universities at Davao and by having speakers who are successful from their own walks of life. More importantly, MCI has this cross-cultural exchange program in which the students study for a semester at TAMU-Commerce both to learn in a formal and informal ways, wherein I and Jerald are humbly thankful because we are chosen to be part of it.
I am really thankful to all people behind MCI and I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to MCI benefactors.
Name: Jerald Cabangcala
Course: B.S. Nursing
Tribe: Ilonggo
"Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18)."
Life is a continuous struggle for survival and achievements. And for these reasons we always tend to find the best way in facing this challenge of life.
I am Jerald M. Cabangcala, the youngest in our family. I belong to the Ilonggo tribe and I grew up from a poor but caring family that tries to maximize and use every resource that we have in order to survive. That is why our parents emphasized to us the value of education. They actually call it -education- as the only thing that they can give us when the time for them to leave us arrives. Indeed, it is true. And thus, we view education us our tool to fight poverty and achieve our goals in life.
Currently, I am taking up nursing as a second course. And it was during my second year of nursing study that I came to know the Minority Care International (MCI) organization. It was actually introduced to me by Jul, a close friend, who is a scholar of MCI. Then he invited me to attend the study forum. Because he was my friend I decided to attend the said study forum, it was then that I formally met MCI.
After that first encounter with MCI, instead of going to other places on Saturday nights, I decided to continuously attend the study forum (from 7pm-9pm) for the reason that it helps me to make my time more meaningful and fruitful. Moreover, I was also invited to attend the fellowship every Sunday afternoon together with the President of MCI-Dr. Aland Mizell- and with the scholars. It was a privilege for me to be in the fellowship for it widens my views about religious perspectives and it strengthens my faith to God.
I personally treasure every moment that I spend with MCI. For every activity that we do and fulfill gives us lessons that we could bring all throughout our lives. In every study forum that we had, we learn real issues and problems that every person are encountering. And through these studies our social, environmental, global, moral and spiritual awareness had been enhance. Thus, we as students are driven to respond to every learning that we earn through the help of MCI. For we are not only taught by MCI to be socially, environmentally, globally, morally, and spiritually aware but also to be socially, environmentally, globally, morally, and spiritually involved. Thus, with the aid of MCI we were moved and inspired to do some programs and activities that could realize our learning. Some of these activities are the donation of water tank for the elderly, in which we raise funds to have the water tank. We also linked with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and had our tree planting. Likewise, we had also extended help in a Medical Mission. And annually MCI conducts Tool for School for less fortunate children. And with this activity we learn not only to receive but also to give. As we learn from our fellowship says there is no poor that has nothing to give. Likewise, to be morally and spiritually equipped we are very fortunate to be invited in the annual retreat that is conducted by the Minority Care International.
We are indeed learning a lot through the assistance of MCI. For as a student, usually our focus is just to learn those things or ideas that are directly related to our course. However, the Minority Care International fills the area where in our courses do not offer the knowledge that we need to acquire in this life.
Meeting the Minority Care International was both a joy and a blessing for me, and I believe for every member and scholar of the organization. It is because; MCI is giving us, not just knowledge and information, but the right direction on how to live this life that we are living. Likewise, the MCI serves as an icon of hope for us who are struggling to reach every goal that we desire in life through education. For every student, both scholars and members, of this organization come from poor and ordinary families that aim to survive by sending us to school. And, it is such an enormous blessing and a gift for us to know and be a part of the help that the MCI serves to every person in need.
It is my honor to tell the great and generous story of MCI. MCI sends underprivileged students to school without any expectation in return. Moreover, they are also sending students for exchange program to study and widen their experience in Texas with their full support. It was such a great blessing and privilege for me to be a part of the student exchange program. For I definitely know that my family cannot afford to send me to study in other country. Until now I cannot contain the joy and thanksgiving that I am experiencing for this opportunity that the Minority Care International had given to me. It was indeed a dream come true.
Through this we thank God for the person -Dr. Aland Mizell- that He had used to be an instrument of conceptualizing and making the Minority Care International realized and also for those persons -MCI Benafactors- that He had chosen to be instruments to make MCI possible and functioning. In behalf of all the students of MCI, with heartfelt gratitude, I say thank you for all your support and sacrifices. Thank you specially for all of you who spend both your material support and your time. God will surely reward you for all your noble works. Indeed, the Minority Care International "gains life by serving others".
With men it is impossible; but to God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). Thank you and God Bless."
FALL 2010
Name: Aquisah Ampuan
Course: B.S. Nursing
Tribe: Muslim Maranao
"I grow up with the beliefs and traditions of a Maranao tribe. Mostly in our culture, women usually get married at an early age. Our parents are the ones who will decide and fix marriage for us. Our parents are the ones who will decide and fix marriage for us. They thought that this way they're assured that their child will be better if she can find partner in life. A negative consequence is that they set aside the importance of education.
My father tried to put me in a fixed marriage at the same time I applied for a scholarship of MCI. It was against my will and caused me to have strained relationship with my father. Luckily, I got the scholarship from MCI thanks to MCI President Sir Aland Mizell for believing in me.
This is where Minority Care International came into my life just as when I thought I couldn't pursue my dream to be a professional nurse. Because of their help, I was motivated to finish my studies and fulfill my dreams in life.
I thought it would remain to be an unfufilled dream to become a nurse. The saying of "when God closes a door, He opens a window," was shown the time I got a scholarship from MCI. God is always making a way to help underprivilege minority like me. MCI organization was created to help and reach out to needy minorities like me.
I didn't expect to be one of the exchange students to participate in a cross-cultural study. It is a great opportunity given by MCI organization to me. I'm so thankful to be one of those students. I know it will help students like me to develop awareness and understanding on how great the American culture is and to bring that greatness back into my community. One day when I achieve my dream, I desire to help other people through MCI. Words will never be enough to express my gratitude to MCI and how much the organization means to my life. I look at life more positively now and with a deeper understanding thanks to the scholarship and value formation given to me through MCI."
-Aquisah
Name: Anidah Macadato
Course: B.S. Nursing
Tribe: Muslim Maranao
"At a young age, I experience how difficult life is. When I graduated in high school I worked at a department store in order to survive and to pay for daily expenses instead of going to school. I also remember the time when some of my siblings were given to the care of my aunt and uncle to be raised as their own children. Life is hard especially for my family and myself as minorities. I sacrificed my studies to contribute money so my family can make ends meet. My parents had to give my other siblings away to be able to care for us who were left behind.
At first I thought that my dream to become a nurse would forever remain a dream due to financial problems. My parents do not have enough income to send me to college because they don't have permanent jobs and had to bring food to the table. Education was not option for me. It greatly saddened me but I understand how financially hard it was for my parents to raise us.
But when MCI came into my life, they granted my dream to pursue my nursing studies. They provide a scholarship for my studies in nursing. I'm currently in my sophomore year studying Bachelor of Science in Nursing thanks to all benefactors of MCI.
MCI opened another door of opportunity to me. It is a great privilege to be chosen as one of the cross-cultural exchange students. I hope to learn about the American culture by attending Texas A & M University - Commerce. I will also learn more about nursing from being an intern student in one of the big hospitals in Texas. The experience that I will gain in this cross-cultural study will extend my knowledge in my nursing field and widen my view in life."
-Anidah
FALL 2009
Minority Care International (MCI), in partnership with Texas A&M University-Commerce and the University of Mindanao (UM), is pleased to announce the first two MCI scholars to embark on a Student Exchange Program in what promises to be the first of many. Solaica Derendegen and Sarah Sultan will leave on August 27, 2009, for the United States to begin taking cross-cultural courses and participating in an internship program. Solaica will forge her cross-cultural experience working twenty hours a week in the nursing internship program at the Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville (near A&M-Commerce). Sarah, a business major, will intern twenty-hours a week in the Financial Trust Service office of Dee Hilton to learn American business practices and share those used in the Philippines.
Name: Solaica Derendegen
Course: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Tribe: Maranao
"MCI help me more than I had ever imagined. At a very young age, I thought and constantly worry what my life would be, especially when my father passed away and my mother got married again and got more children. The events in my life led me into thinking that , I will end up having worthless and miserable life. MCI came into my life and changed everything for the better. Without MCI, I could be in a fixed marriage without ever fulfilling my dream to become a nurse someday. I once thought I don't have any choice in life but to conform to what is expected of me especially in my culture. MCI brings me hope and teaches me to dream again and to pursue education. I find joy and fulfillment on my studies in Nursing. I look forward to the day I will become a Registered Nurse. I can't express how much MCI means in my life and how it changed me for the better.
This cross-cultural student exchange program is a great opportunity for me to learn new knowledge, be trained in a high quality hospital and understand the culture of one of the great countries in the world. Aside from this, I'm staying with my host family who are very kind, caring and supportive. I hope to share what I'm learning here to my fellow students and especially to my community. I hope to help them understand the importance of education as an alternative to violence, struggle, and poverty."
-Solaica
Name: Sarah Sultan
Course: Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
Tribe: Maranao
"I never thought I have another choice in life besides following what my culture dictates me. I long thought I have to get in a fixed marriage to survive a hard life. I know life is tough but when MCI came into my life it truly opens doors for my dreams to come true. MCI paved the way for good changes to happen in my life. MCI provides the needed financial support for my studies. I never thought I can chose to go to school and become a Certified Public Accountant someday. I thought the scholarship was enough but then MCI also bless me with more such as meeting our benefactors face to face and knowing their kindness and support. Not only that, there are many things that has changed including how I see life. It really touches my heart. Words can not express how much MCI means in my life. My life would have been very different if I am not a MCI scholar.
I'm very proud to be chosen as a cultural exchange student of Minority Care International. It's an honor to be a part of MCI organization. As a MCI scholar, I'll continually bring the MCI principles and teachings wherever I am. I'll forever treasure this rare opportunity given to me."
-Sarah
